Home exercising apparatus



Oct. 7, 1958 H. BLICKMAN I 2,855,200

HOME EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT 0R. Harry Bllckmun ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1958 H. BLICKMAN HOME EXERCISING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1955 FIG.2.

INVENTOR. Harry Blickman BY f/Mn,

ATTORNEY I. kill Oct. 7, 1958 H. BLICKMAN HOME EXERCISING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1955 n. s m m3 5 W 4 5 0k Tl u 2 E s M s ww 5 I M H 5 5 2 9 \w 7 O 3 M 4 YX D "4 B A TORNEY United States atent Ofiic 2,855,29 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 HOWE EXERCISING APPARATUS Harry lilichrnan, New York, N. Y. Appiication December 1, 1955, Serial No. 55$,4M 6 Claims. (CL 272--S3) This invention relates to a home exercising apparatus.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a home exercising apparatus which provides all of the different exercising facilities, including horizontal bars, spring pulls, bicycling and swimming and which when folded onto a closet door so that upon the door being closed the apparatus may be stored within the closet of an ordinary room.

It is another object of the invention to provide a home exercising apparatus having the above multiple exercising facilities which is light in weight, durable and strong, and which consumes little space when folded onto a closet door.

It is still another object of the invention to employ in an exercising apparatus spring pulls of a compact spring cable roll type that can be readily mounted on the frame of the apparatus, adjusted to different strength, and extendable and retractable without noise that would ordinarily result from the lifting and lowering of the ordinary types of pulley weights.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for use upon horizontal bars a rolling seat that can permit the use of the apparatus for the rowing and swimming exercises and wherein said seat has verticallyadjustable legs that can be extended to provide a fixed elevated seat upon the horizontal bars so as to adapt the apparatus for use with exercises that are done from an elevated sitting position, such as the bicycling and foot rolling exercises.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a home exercising apparatus employing a bicycling pedal device which can be extended either outwardly from the horizontal bar when folded onto the door and the pulley reel cords attached thereto for the resistanceeffect so that one can when in a standing position rotate the pedal device by hand or extended in such a manner as to lie below the horizontal bars when they are extended to the floor so that one can when seated on the horizontal bars rotate the pedal device by the feet in the usual manner to exercise the legs and wherein the pedal device has adjustable frictional resistance means incorporated therein that can be released for use of the device with the spring pull cable rolls or the resistance means may be used together with the pulley spring reels.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a foot support for a home exercising apparatus which can be used when turned in one direction for rowing exercise or which when turned in the other direction can serve to support the feet with the toes down as when doing the swimming exercise and when in use in either position it can tilt about a horizontal axis in either direction and against a balance spring arrangement in order that the feet when performing either of the exercises can be tilted to allow the apparatus to be accommodated to the user.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide in a home exercising apparatus a foldable leg adapted to support the horizontal bars above the floor when they are extended to be supported thereon or when folded onto the door support and the leg left extended can serve as a means on which the chinning exercise can be performed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a home type exercising apparatus adapted to be mounted upon a closet door, having the above objects in mind, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, easy to mount upon the closet door, easy to be extended for use and retracted when not in use, of pleasing appearance, provides practically all of the exercising facilities and eflicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the home exercising apparatus of the present invention mounted on a door with the parts collapsed so as to permit closing of the door and the apparatus closed into a closet,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the illustration made as to the manner in which the horizontal bars are extended and supported on the floor for use in practicing swimming and rowing exercises and with illustration made as to how the pedaling device is extended to permit the operation of the same by the hand,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus with the horizontal bars extended to the floor position and with the seat supported on the horizontal bars and elevated to permit the user of the apparatus to engage the foot pedaling device so as to perform a bicycling exercise,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the multiple spring pull container broken away to show the spring pull cable rolls,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through'the friction brake of the pedaling device and as viewed on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one end of the foot support mounting bar,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the foot support mounting bar and looking upon the side end of the foot support, the View being taken generally on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the foot support inverted with the toe straps down and adapted for use when performing the swimming exercise,

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the rolling seat with the legs thereof extended to adapt the seat for use in an exercise where the user of the apparatus needs to be elevated,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the seat mounted upon the horizontal bars so that it can roll thereon and when the legs are collapsed thereunder,

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the seat with the legs collapsed thereunder,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of one of the adjustable seat legs with portions broken away to show the locking pin seated in one of the adjusting holes thereof,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the adjustable legs shown in full with a dotted line position illustrating the manner in which the locking pin can be released to permit the leg adjustment, and

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 14-44 of Fig. 13 and through the'hinge pin connection of the locking pin lever.

Referring now to the figures, 20 represents a closet door on which the apparatus of the present invention is to be mounted. This apparatus has three verticallyspaced mounting pieces 21, 22 and 23 that are attached to the door by screws 24. Secured upon the lower and intermediate mounting pieces 21 and 22 and laterally spaced from one another are side sleeve supports and 26 having respectively slits 25 and 26 extending downwardly from openings 25" and 26" in their upper ends. In the respective lower ends of these sleeves 25 and 26 and adapted to be projected out of the same, are respectively retaining rubber feet devices 27 and 28 adapted to frictionally engage the floor so as to hold the door and the apparatus in a stationary position and against swinging motion. These feet devices can be respectively retracted by adjusting knobs 27 and 28 and dog latched in their recesses 27 and 28", Fig. 1. On the lower mounting piece 21 are laterally-spaced spring pull assemblies 29 and 30. These spring pull assemblies lie outwardly of the respective sleeve supports 25 and 26. Each assembly comprises three spring pull cable rolls 31, 32 and 33 respectively having loop ends 31, 32', and 33' to which a pull plate 34 is releasably attached by its pin projections 34'. One, two or three of these rolls can be attached to the plate depending upon the pull resistance desired. The spring pull cable rolls 31 32 and 33 are releasably held in a housing 35 by a cross angle bar 36 that is secured to the side sleeve support 25 or 26 whichever case it may be by screws 37 that enter an inclined top face portion 24' on the mounting piece 24 and which passes respectively through upwardly inclined projections 31", 32" and 33" of the respective spring cable rolls 31, 32 and 33. By releasing one of the screws 37 and lifting one of the pull cable rolls by its inclined projection the cable rolls can be pulled out of the housing 35 and replaced by another reel. Extending upwardly from the respective pull plates 34 of respective cable rolls 29 and 30 are pulley cords 38 and 39 which pass through upper pulley brackets 40 and 41 mounted on the upper mounting piece 23 and forwardly over their respective pulleys 40' and 41' so as to extend downwardly in front of the apparatus under the weight of their respective hand grips 42 and 43. It will be apparent that with so much of the apparatus that has been thus far described one can pull on the handles 42 and 43 to do the usual arm exercises ordinarily afforded with the standard pulley weightcable apparatus used heretofore.

The sleeve supports 25 and 26 are adapted respectively to support horizontal bars 44 and 45 in both their retracted and extended positions. These horizontal bars 44 and 45 respectively. have plate extensions 44' and 45' on their inner ends that are respectively slidable in the vertical slots 25 and 26' of the sleeve supports 25 and 26 and are retained respectively by sliding cross pins 46 in the manner shown'in Fig. 3. The horizontal P bars 44 and 45 are of less diameter than the support sleeves 25 and 26 so that when the horizontal bars are elevated to a vertical position they can be slid downwardly into the respective open upper ends 25" and 26" of the sleeve supports 25' and 26. bars as well as the other parts of the apparatus are preferably made of aluminum so as to be light in weight and easily lifted out of the sleeve supports or fitted thereinto. The horizontal bars when, supported on the floor are held against outward displacement from the sleeve supports 25 and 26 by the cross pins 46, Fig. 3.

These horizontal bars 44 and 45 respectively have projections 47 and 48 near their outer ends which are respectively to engage notches 49 and 50 in the upper ends of the respective brackets 40 and 41 on the upper transverse mounting piece 23, whereby to support the outer ends of the bars upon the door.

The outer ends of the horizontal bars 44 and 45 are respectively bent as indicated at 44" and 45" and extending therebetween is a U-shaped member 51 that serves as a chinning bar when the horizontal bars are elevated and as a foot support for the horizontal bars when they are lowered. The ends of the U-shaped member 51 are respectively pivotally .connected to the respective bent ends 44" and 45" by pivot pins 52 and The horizontal 4 53. The U-shaped member is held in its extended position by foldable brackets 54 and 55 respectively connected therebetween. As shown in Fig. 2, it will be apparent when the horizontal bars are elevated and the U-shaped member 51 extended, the member can be used for the chinning exercise. The member 51 will be gripped by the hand and the user can lift himself in the usual manner. By collapsing the brackets 54 and 55 the U-shaped member 51 can be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to reduce the amount of space occupied by the apparatus upon the door. While the U-shaped member 51 is still extended and the horizontal bars lowered to the floor this member 51 serves as the support for the outer ends thereof. Rubber elements 56 and 57 are provided on the bottom of the member 51 to further prevent the door and the horizontal bars from slipping upon the floor.

The horizontal bars 44 and 45 have outwardly extending integral bracket projections 58 and 59 to which a bicycling pedal device 60 is pivotally attached. This pedal device comprises a U-shaped pivot arm 61, the legs of which are respectively pivotally connected to the respective integral bracket projections 58 and 59 by respective pivot pins 62 and 63. This U-shaped arm 61 can be held in its extended position by foldable brackets 64 and 65 respectively connected between the bars 44 and 45 and the legs of the arm 61. Pivotally connected upon the U-shaped member is a central post assembly 66 that can be adjusted to extend outwardly beyond the arm 61 when the arm is extended as illustrated in Fig. 2 when the horizontal bars supported upon the door in a vertical position, so that its double crank 75 mounted on the free end of the post 66 may be turned by hand.

The cable cords 38 and 39 can be respectively connected to pedals 68 and 69 by their respective hooks 38 and 39 as shown in Fig. 2 so that the pedals can be grasped by the hands and rotated against the action of the spring pull tape assemblies 29 and 30.

As shown in Fig. 3, the post assembly 66 can be extended upwardly from the U-shaped member 61 in a position to rotate the pedals 68 and 69 by the feet while the user is seated upon an adjustable seat assembly 70 in the manner shown as illustrated in Fig. 3. The post assembly 66 is limited to swing only through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees by virtue of an arcuate slot 71 cut in a pivot sleeve 72 that pivotally attaches the post assembly to the arm 61 and a pin 73 on the arm 61 and projected into the arcuate slot 71, Fig. 1. A latch bolt 74 either one of holes, not shown, in the arm 61 to hold the post assembly in either of its adjusted positions.

The pedals 68 and 69 are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of a double crank 75 that is rotatable in a sleeve 76 on the outer end of the post arm assembly 66, Fig. 5. Within this sleeve 76 there is provided a brake assembly comprising a brake ring 77 that is fixed to axle portion 75' of the double crank 75 by a threaded set pin 78. Surrounding this ring is a separable spring clamp brake band 79 having a lining 80 that engages the outer surface of the brake ring 77. The brake band 79 has opposing projections 79' and 79" which are connected together by an adjusting screw 81 that is threaded into the sleeve 76 and is accessible through a slot opening 82 therein. Adjusting this screw 81 one way or' the other will vary the frictional resistance offered to the user of the foot pedal device. It will thus be seen that the foot pedal device can be restrained either by the brake band 79 or by the pull cords 38 and 39 that may be attached by their respective hooks 38 and 39' to the respective eyes 68' and 69'.

The seat device 70 can be used in the manner as shown in Fig. 2 for swimming or rowing exercise or its legs can be extended and used as shown in Fig. 3 for bicycling exercise. The horizontal bars 44 and 45 respectively have raised track formations 84 and 85. When the seat device 70 is used without the legs extended seat pulley .wheels 86 and 87 on the opposite sides of the seat will roll over the track formations 84 and 85 and the seat is thereby retained upon the horizontal bars against lateral displacement therefrom. These pulley wheels, two on each side, are journaled in inverted integral channel side portions 88 and 89 of a transverse seat base 90 that may have wood top piece, not shown. Fixed to the respective inverted channel portions 88 and 89 are hand grip projections 92 and 93 by which one can grasp the seat when Working the bicycling device.

The seat 70 has side leg extensions 94 and 95 that are normally folded onto the underside of the seat base 90 and releasably retained thereagainst by a catch 96 as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. These leg extensions can be released and swung downwardly to assume the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 9 and rested upon the horizontal bars 44 and 45. The leg extension 94 has two adjustable legs 94' and 94" joined together by an elongated foot 96 which is so shaped on its underface to receive the track formation 84 and the top of the horizontal bar 44. Each of these telescopically adjustable legs 94' and 94" has an inner telescoping part 98, a plurality of vertically-spaced adjusting holes 98' adapted to receive a locking pin 99 normally held in engagement with the holes by a bent leaf spring 100 attached to the outer sleeve by screws 101. This locking pin is fixed to an operating lever 102 that has an outwardly inclined thumb engaging portion 103 conforming in shape to the bent leaf spring 100 and adapted to be secured over and retained upon the spring by side projections 104, Figs. 12 and 13. On the lever 102 are opposing side lugs 103' and 103" which are respectively secured to the telescoping part 98 by respective pivot pins 105 and 105. The side leg extension 95 has adjustable legs 95' and 95" which are of the same construction and the above description which has been made to the side leg extension 94 should suflice. The leg extension 95 has telescopically adjustable legs 95 and 95" that are joined together by an elongated foot 107 which is shaped to receive the track 85 and the top of the horizontal bar 45. Each of the legs 95' and 95" has a telescopically adjustable part 106.

The adjustable part 98 of the leg assemblies 94' and 94" has a double angle bent formation 108 comprising a transversely-extending portion 108" adapted to engage with the integral inverted channel portion 88 of the seat base 90 and a longitudinally-extending hinge axle portion 108" that is hingedly connected to hinge plate 110 fixed to the underside of the seat base, Figs. 9 and 11. The adjustable part 106 of the legs 95 and 95" has a transversely-extending portion 109 at its upper end adapted to engage the inverted channel portions 89 and a longitudinally-extending hinge axle portion 109' that is hingedly connected to hinge plate 111 fixed to the underside of seat base 90. The transversely-extending portions 108 and 109 will hold the side leg extensions 94 and 95 against further outward displacement and separation from the horizontal bars 44 and 45.

When the seat device is positioned upon the horizontal bars as shown in phantom, Fig. 2, so as to support one in a rowing position seated upon the seat 70 and the feet may bear against a pivotable foot rest device 112. This foot rest device 112 comprises a transversely-extending bar 113 having enlarged flattened end portions 113 and 113" which are respectively secured to the respective vertically-extending sleeve supports 25 and 26 by fastening bolts 114' and 114". The bar 113 is round and has a sleeve 115 adapted to turn thereon through a small are equivalent to the length of a slot 115. A pin 116 is fixed to the bar 113 and extends into the slot thereby to limit the turning movement of the sleeve relative to the bar 113. The sleeve 115 is balanced by coil springs 117' and 117", each of which is anchored to the bar 113 at 118 and anchored to the sleeve 115 and 118", Fig. 6. The foot rest device 112 has a divided foot plate 120 that has heel flanges 121 and 122 and corresponding toe straps 123 and 124 lying respectively above the respective heel flanges.

121 and 122, Fig. 1. The foot plate is pivoted upon a support plate 126 and held against rotation by a clamping nut 127 that is tightened upon a stud 128 that extends through a central hole 120 in the foot plate 120. This foot plate 120 when adjusted to the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7 has the toe straps elevated so that the feet can extend upright. By virtue of the balance springs 117' and 117" a certain amount of natural pivotal movement of the foot plate 120 can be had as the exercise is performed. Upon the apparatus being used for a swimming exercise as is shown in Fig. 2 the foot rest plate 120 is inverted to assume the position better shown in Fig. 8. In this position, the heel flanges 121 and 122 are elevated with the toe straps lying therebelow. The foot rest plate 120 has an arcuate slot 129 extending through one hundred and eighty degrees and on the support plate 126 is a pin 130 that projects into the slot to limit the angular adjustment of the foot plate to the length of the are.

In both these positions of the foot rest and with the user of the apparatus either seated on the seat 70 for the rowing exercise or lying on his stomach as shown in Fig. 2 for the swimming exercise, the hand grips 42 and 43 can be extended to be grasped by the hands of the user so that a pulling action simulating rowing with oars or a hand action simulating strokes of a swimmer can be effected and at the same time a tilting adjustment of the feet fore and aft can be had. In the use of the apparatus for elfecting these rowing and swimming exercises, the pull cords 38 and 39 are drawn down. and extended under pulleys 131 and 132 respectively mounted on the upper ends of the sleeve supports 25 and 26 by means of their respective brackets 131 and 132'.

For the wrist and forearm exercise, there is mounted between the horizontal bars a roller device 133 adapted to be gripped by the hand and mounted between bearing brackets 134 and 135 respectively secured to the underside of the horizontal bars 44 and 45. The hand grips 42 and 43 can be disconnected from the pulley cords 38 and 39 and the hooks 38' and 39' thereof attached to eyes 136 and 136 lying on the opposite end extensions roller device 133 so as to furnish load for the exercise. The roller device is turned by the hands and the restraining pulley cords will be wound upon the extensions.

The roller device 133 may also serve as a massaging device when free of the pull cords against which one may embrace a portion of his body and by a movement there cause the same to be massaged. This massaging operation can be effected while the horizontal bars are elevated and while in the vertical position on the door or it can be effected when the horizontal bars are lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2 and with the seat 70 removed the person can lie upon the device 130 or sit upon the same. The feet may be similarly exercised by sitting upon the vertically-extended seat 10 as shown in Fig. 3 and work the feet over the roller device 133.

The apparatus consists generally of mounting pieces that are adapted for attachment to the face of a closet door by means of screws 24 and which have a self-contained pulley cord spring pull cable, spaced sleeve supports 25 and 26, a foot device 112 extending between the lower ends of the sleeve supports and horizontal bars which may be supported upon and pivoted from the supports all of the parts are preferably to be of light Weight. Thus, it will be seen that the horizontal bars can be lifted from or easily fitted into the sleeve supports 25 and 26 Without disengagement therefrom and the outer ends of the horizontal bars made secure when in their vertical storing positions by the lugs 47 and 48 fitted into the brackets 40 and 41 so as not to place undue strain upon the sleeve supports when the member 51 is for the chinning exercise. This can be done by merely grasping the horizontal bars 44 and 45 and elevating the same to a vertical position so that the rounded part of the horizontal bars register respectively with the open ends 25" 21111126 of the-sleeves 25 and 26 and lowered thereinto and the-lugs 47 and 48 registered with the slots 49 and 50 intheup'per brackets 40 and 41 on the upper mounting plate 23. By lifting the horizontal bars upwardly and thelugs 47and 48 out of the recesses 49 and Si and elevated sufiiciently so that the fiat bar extensions '44 and 45' of the horizontal bars 44 and 45 can be pivoted downwardly through the slots. 25 and 26 and lowered to the floor.

' If desired to remove the horizontal bars 25 and26, they may be elevated so their pins 46 are lifted out of the open ends 25" and 26 of the sleeves. In this way the horizontal bars can be separated-from the other apparatus. Since these bars are made of light weight aluminum it is not difiicult to liftv the same and free the horizontal parts from the vertical sleeve supports. It will also be apparent that the combined chinning bar and support member-on the horizontal bars can be readily extended and the foldable brackets straightened.

It will be further apparent that by similar movement the bicycling device can be extended so that its pedal crank can clear the horizontal bars, when in their elevated positions, for use of-the'device with the hands, its post 66 having been extended to the full extent as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that many of the exercises efiected with various different gym devices can all be done with one apparatus which is light in weight and may be supported upon a door of-a closet and swung therewith into the closet when not in use. Thus the apparatus is readily available to its owner at all times and consumes little space.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising transverse mounting pieces adapted to be fixed in vertically-spaced relationship upon a door or wall surface, vertically-extending sleeve supports laterally spaced from one another and connected between the transverse mounting pieces, horizontal bars respectively slidably and pivotally attached to said vertically-extending sleeve supports, said horizontal bars being adapted to be endwise fitted into the upper ends of said sleeve supports when the horizontal bars are pivoted upwardly and lowered thereinto so as to be stored upon the door and adapted to be released and pivoted downwardly by lifting the bars from the ends of the sleeve supports and lowering the same toa horizontal position upon the floor.

2. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1, a foot support connected to the outer ends of the horizontal bars, a furthertransverse mounting piece adapted to be fixed in an elevated position upon the door or wall surface above the other transverse mounting pieces, verticallyextendingbrackets fixed to said mounting piece in laterally spacedrelationship from one another, said horizontal bars adapted to have locking engagementwith said. elevated vertically-extending brackets when in-their vertical positions upon:said door ,whereby to be supported at their free ends thereupon, said foot support being in theiform of a'U-shape'd member adapted to extend forwardly from the door; when, the horizontal bars are in their vertical positions so as to serve as a chinning bar.

3. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1, and a bicycling device hingedly connected between the horizontal bars and collapsible bracket supports for holding said device extended upon-. said bars, said bicycling device including a. U-shapedmember, a post journalled upon said member for-limited adjustment through an arc of one hundred eighty degrees-thereupon, meansfor locking said post in one position or the other one hundred and eighty degrees apart, apedalcrank having pedals thereon journalled in the free end 'of said pedal post whereby said pedal crankcan be available for use when the horizontal barsare either retained in. their vertical-positions or when the horizontal bars are restedupon the floor for use with the feet.

4. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 3, and an adjustable brake device in the free end of'said post and engageable with said'crank to restrain the rotation of said crank.

5. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1, and a seat device adapted to span the horizontal bars. and a foot rest-device extended-between the vertical supports and adapted to, support the feet while the user of the apparatus is supported upon the bars, said foot rest device comprising --a bar extending between and rigidlysecured to the vertical supports, .a sleeve surroundingsaid bar and adapted for limited rotation thereon, a foot rest plate secured to'said sleeve and balance spring means connected between the sleeve and the barto resiliently restrain fore and aft movement of thefoot plate.

6. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 5, and said foot rest plate having heel flanges and toe straps and being connected to said sleeve for angular adjustment thereon so that the foot restplate can be used in an inverted position with the toe straps down as when the apparatus is being used --for a swimming exercise with the user of the apparatus lying on his stomach .upon the seat device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

